Cartridge

ABSTRACT

A projectile is effective for a short time and distance and is thereafter rendered ineffective as a result of its rotation in flight. The projectile is mounted in a case of the standard type which permits it to be used in a standard gun. The projectile has a solid head and a hollow extension, the latter of which has longitudinal slots providing a plurality of side wall sections. The sections hinge outwardly from the head, in the position of blades of a propeller, when rotated by the lands in a gun barrel after passing therefrom to quickly reduce the velocity and the striking power of the projectile. By changing the weight at the free end of the side wall sections the time and distance at which the projectile is effective can be changed.

United States Patent Mawhinney et al.

CARTRIDGE Inventors: Robert C. Mawhinney, Danville;

Edward F. Lamp, Walnut Creek; Stephen F. Mulich, Jr., San Ramon,

all of Calif.

Assignee: MB Associates, San Ramon, Calif.

Filed: Dec. 7, 1972 Appl. No.: 312,937

Related US. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 148,496, June 1, 1971, abandoned.

US. Cl 102/41, 102/38, 102/62, 102/927, 244/3.1

Int. Cl. F42b 13/20 Field of Search 244/31, 3.24, 3.27; 102/42 C, 62, 92.7, 41

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1862 Browne 102/62 51 Sept. 10, 1974 1,205,715 11/1916 Damer 102/62 3,347,491 10/1967 Pickart 102/62 3,724,376 4/1973 Kordas 102/42 C Primary Examiner-Robert F. Stahl Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Harness, Dickey & Pierce [57] ABSTRACT A projectile is efiective for a short time and distance and is thereafter rendered ineffective as a result of its rotation in flight. The projectile is mounted in a case of the standard type which permits it to be used in a standard gun. The projectile has a solid head and a hollow extension, the latter of which has longitudinal slots providing a plurality of side wall sections. The sections hinge outwardly from the head, in the position of blades of a propeller, when rotated by the lands in a gun barrel after passing therefrom to quickly reduce the velocity and the striking power of the projectile. By changing the weight at the free end of the side wall sections the time and distance at which the projectile is effective can be changed.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENIED SEP 1 01974 CARTRIDGE This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 148,496, filed June 1, 1971, now abandoned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains to a projectile so constructed as to have the force embodied therein when fired quickly dissipate. The projectile is constructed for a standard cartridge such as a 38 caliber cartridge which is used in a hand gun, for example, the case of which is of standard form having a firing cap and a charge of powder. The projectile is of a cylindrical form having a solid head and a hollow section, the wall of which is longitudinally slotted to provide a plurality of side wall sections. The free ends of the wall sections extend within the open end of the case against a sealing element which engages the powder charge. The head is of such diameter as to be engaged by the lands in a gun barrel which rotate the projectile about its axis after passing therethrough. Upon leaving the barrel, the centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the projectile causes the side wall sections to hinge outwardly from the head to assume a position such as that of the blades of a propeller which quickly reduces the velocity of the projectile and the time and distance in which it is effective.

One application where such a projectile has a substantial advantage is that for the gun of a Sky Marshal of an airplane where it is desired to have the projectile effective for a short distance but ineffective for a longer distance so that it will not pass through and puncture the wall of the airplane. By thickening the outer free ends of the side wall sections, the added weight thereto is more readily acted upon by the centrifugal force during the rotation of the projectile to cause the side wall sections to hinge outwardly from the head in a shorter time to thereby reduce the time and distance in which the projectile is effective.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a cartridge having a projectile therein embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken on the line 2-2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the projectile in spent condition after being fired from a gun;

FIG. 4 is a broken view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 3, as viewed from the point 4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a projectile with the side sections thickened at the outer ends and with a mandrel therebetween;

FIG. 6 is a view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 5 with the side sections deflected inwardly to form a cylinder, and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged end view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 6, as viewed from the point 7 thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a cartridge 11 has a case 12 of conventional form embodying a cylindrical body 13 and a head end 14 containing a percussion cap 15 in the center which ignites a powder charge 16 when struck by the hammer of a gun. The powder charge is maintained compacted within the head end of the case 12 by a sealing washer 17, made of plastic or the like, having a sealing lip 18. A projectile 21 has a heavy forward head end 22 and a plurality of side wall sections 23 extending therefrom and disposed in the .end of the case 12 with the free ends 24 in engagement with the sealing element 17. Various methods may be employed to produce the projectile which is made of aluminum, lead or similar dead material which is readily bendable. The length of a cylindrical aluminum rod has an aperture 25 drilled therein and partly into the head 22 after which the hollow section is slotted at 26 to form'the plurality of sections 23 which are herein illustrated .as 4 in number. The case 12 is preferably of the standard type and may be that for a 38 caliber revolver in which it can be effective for a short range and uneffective therebeyond. When the cartridge is fired, the head 22 passes through the lands and grooves in the barrel to produce the axial rotation to the projectile, the centrifugal force of which acting upon the outer portions of the side wall sections 23 causes them to expand .outwardly from the axis and assume the position as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 in a short time and distance. As pointed out above, this is especially useful in the hand gun of a Sky Marshal when the projectileshould beeffective for a short distance and ineffective therebeyond so that it cannot pierce the wall of the airplane and cause the escape of pressure therefrom. The side wall sections quickly hinge outwardly from the head into a plane, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4., in the position of the blade of an airplane propeller. It can be seen that when moving to and reaching this position, the forward force of the projectile becomes quickly ineffective.

In FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, a further form of the invention is illustrated that wherein a projectile 30 has :a head 31 and side wall sections 32 extending therefrom. It will be noted that the side wall sections progressively increase in thickness and weight toward-the free ends so that the centrifugal force can act more readily thereon and quickly move the side wall sections outwardly from the head. The projectile is cast in a mold about a central cylindrical mandrel 33 with diverging side wall sections 34 formed outwardly thereof. The spaces between the sections are such that after the removal ofthecast projectile from the mold and mandrel 33 it may be passed through a cylindrical aperture in a sizing element to move the side wall sections 34 inwardly to have the outer surfaces thereof disposed in cylindrical extension of the head 31. By tapering the wallsections, the projectile can readily be removed from the moldand by having the tapered extensions 35 on the mandrel, item also be readily removed. Other methods may be employed for producing weight on the outer ends of the.

wall sections so that the ends will hemorereadily affected by the centrifugal force so that the distance and time in which the projectile is effective can be accurately controlled.

We claim:

1. In combination with a cartridge case having-a propel'lant therein, a projectile having a body including .a solid cylindrical front portion and av hollow cylindrical rear portion of a predetermined caliber and whichis of uniform diameter throughout its length and closed at-its forward end by said front portion and open at its. rear end, air braking arms forming a part: otlsai'd hollow cylindrical rear portion of the body'andhingedly attached at their forward ends to said-solid portion andextending rearwardly along and lying .at the cylindrical outer surface of the body throughout the major portion of its length in positions substantially conforming to the caliber of the projectile, the rear ends of the arms extending into the cartridge case, and a washer-like element in the case interposed between the propellant and the rear ends of the arms, whereby the braking arms are prevented from any material outward movement by the bore of a rifle from which the projectile is fired, but after leaving the rifle are movable to an outspread relation under the centrifugal force impartable thereto by the rifling of the rifle to act as an air brake and limit the range of the projectile.

the unit pressure and wearing effect on the barrel.

. UNITED STATES BATE OFFICE CERTIFIEATE 0F CORECTIG Patent No. 3,834,311 Dated Sept, 10, 1974 Robert C. Mawhinney, Edward F. Lamp,- Stephen F, Mulich, J 1'' It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

C01,, 4, line 9 (Claim 3, line 6), "be should be "is", Cited References Omitted; 1, 003, 082 9/1911 Ziegenfuss 102/35-4 3, 565, 010 2/1971 Sahlmann 102/}12 C Signed end sealed this 11th day 0f I4erch'l975.

(SEAL) Attest: 1

' .1 I C. MARSHALL DANN 7 RUTH C. MASON 7 Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF 'CYORRFEECTIGN Patent No. I 3, 834, 311 Dated Sept. 10, 1974 Robert C. Mawhinney, Edward F. Larnp, Stephen F. Mu1ich,Jr-

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

C01. 4, line 9 (Claim 3, line 6), "be should be --is--, Cited References Omitted; 1, 003, 082 9/1911 Ziegenfuss 102/35-4 3, 565, 010 2/1971 -Sah1mann 102/ 42 C Signed end sealed this 11th day of March 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

' r. 9 C, MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks-v 

1. In combination with a cartridge case having a propellant therein, a projectile having a body including a solid cylindrical front portion and a hollow cylindrical rear portion of a predetermined caliber and which is of uniform diameter throughout its length and closed at its forward end by said front portion and open at its rear end, air braking arms forming a part of said hollow cylindrical rear portion of the body and hingedly attached at their forward ends to said soliD portion and extending rearwardly along and lying at the cylindrical outer surface of the body throughout the major portion of its length in positions substantially conforming to the caliber of the projectile, the rear ends of the arms extending into the cartridge case, and a washer-like element in the case interposed between the propellant and the rear ends of the arms, whereby the braking arms are prevented from any material outward movement by the bore of a rifle from which the projectile is fired, but after leaving the rifle are movable to an outspread relation under the centrifugal force impartable thereto by the rifling of the rifle to act as an air brake and limit the range of the projectile.
 2. A cartridge as defined in claim 1 wherein the braking arms are of increased cross-section at positions spaced from their hingedly connected positions.
 3. A projectile as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the arms extends peripherally a distance at least approximating 90* and the arms are also of substantial length in proportion to the total length of the projectile whereby the pressure which the arms exert against the bore of the rifle during firing be distributed to minimize the unit pressure and wearing effect on the barrel. 